Richard W. Elsten dies in fatal Huntington County, Indiana car crash

Richard W. Elsten dies in fatal Huntington County, Indiana car crash

Fatal Huntington County, Indiana car crash death of Richard W. Elsten – Obituary

Richard W. Elsten, a 77-year-old resident of Bluffton, lost his life early Wednesday morning after a violent rollover crash along Interstate 69 in Huntington County. Emergency crews were dispatched shortly before 1 a.m. following reports of a vehicle crossing lanes near the 289-mile marker in the Markle area.

Responders arrived to find the car overturned in a ditch, with the driver partially trapped beneath the wreckage. Despite immediate lifesaving attempts, Richard W. Elsten was pronounced dead at the scene by authorities.

Investigators determined that Elsten had been traveling east on County Road 200 North when he failed to recognize that the roadway ended. Officials believe he continued through a grassy area, broke through a state transportation fence, and became airborne over a ditch before entering the southbound lanes of I-69. The vehicle then launched again, struck a cable barrier, rolled several times, and finally came to rest in a ditch on the northbound side of the interstate.

Authorities noted that Elsten may have confused County Road 200 North with nearby County Road 300 North, a route he had driven previously that includes an overpass. Speed was identified as a contributing factor, and investigators reported that Elsten was not wearing a seatbelt. He was the only person inside the vehicle.

The Huntington County Coroner’s Office ruled the death an accident and extended condolences to Elsten’s family and loved ones.